Cleaning bath



April 9, 1968 R. E. SHOEMAKER CLEANING BATH Filed Jan. 6, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS P 1958 R. E. SHOEMAKER 3,376,878

CLEANlNG BATH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 6, 1967 FIG. 4

INVENTOR k/(f/AKU (F. .53905/14/5? ATTORNEYS April 9, 1968 R. E. SHOEMAKER CLEANING BATH 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 6, 1967 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,376,878 CLEANING BATH Richard E. Shoemaker, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Schick Electric Inc., Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 607,771 10 Claims. (Cl. 134-188) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electromechanical device for cleaning small items by agitating a liquid. An economical cleaning bath for consumer use which incorporates the same cleaning action at a lower frequency as that found in the industrial cleaners which utilize ultrasonic cleaning.

Background of the invention Many chemical solutions are available for cleaning purposes. The solutions themselves can only loosen the bonds between the soil particles and the item to be cleaned. Mechanical action is needed to complete the cleaning operation. Brushes, high pressure jet streams, abrasive pads, hydrodynamic cavitation and others are among the various methods used to cause mechanical action for removing soil. These methods are well developed for industrial purposes.

Summary of the invention In this invention, liquid agitation is produced by an AC magnet underneath a bath container which actuates a magnetic member (agitator) within the bath at double the driving frequency. The agitation occurs by elastically deforming the magnetic member inside the bath which produces hydrodynamic forces within the liquid causing a cleaning and scrubbing action. In addition to the mechanical action developed by the sonic vibrations, the magnetic member is designed to swirl the cleaning solution to continually bring more unspent cleaning solution to the soiled area.

The vigorous action of the AC electromagnet operating on the magnetic member in the liquid bath quickly removes soil and particles from small household items such as denture plates. The cleaning time can be reduced further by choosing the proper cleaning solutions with dissolved elfervescin-g gases; The swirling of liquid cleaning chemicals and hydrodynamic forces within the liquid enables thorough cleaning to be achieved.

Description of the drawings In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning bath constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 22 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in the direction of the arrows in FIGS. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 4- 4 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a segmentary view of a portion of the container wherein the rotor disc is disposed.

Description of the preferred embodiment In the figures the unit is shown embodied in two separable main parts which are container 10 and base 11. Both are formed of suitable non-magnetic materials such as molded polystyrene thermoplastic.

The lower portion of the container is in the configuration of a depending skirt 12, the edge 13 of which rests upon gasket 14 which is supported on the peripheral ledge 15 of the base 11. Within skirt 12 a substantially cylindrical portion of the container provides a liquid receiving cup 16. Cup 16 has a rotor disc section 17 of slightly decreased diameter within which rotor disc 18 rests. The decrease in diameter at section 17 provides an annular shoulder 19 upon which rests the edge of denture rack 20.

Denture rack 20 is seen in plan view in FIG. 3. The rack has a grip 20a and a plurality of openings to provide a flat grill-like structure so that it will not interfere with the swirling of liquid within cup 16.

Base 11 contains a magnetic cup 21 which is supported upon shock mounts 22 attached to base plate 23. The base plate is fastened to the base 11 by screws 24 within screw slots 25. The cup 21 is fastened to the base plate by screw stud 26 which extends from the cup, nut 27, shock fastener '28 and closure 29. The base 11 is supported upon an underlying surface by feet 30.

The magnetic cup 21 contains an electromagnet of a modified E or cup core design consisting of a laminated magnetic iron member 31, coil form 32, vertical core laminations 33 and coil windings 34 wound on the coil form all encapsulated within encapsulating epoxy or compound 35. Thermostat 36 can be provided to shut the electromagnet down by discontinuance of current to it upon attainment therein of a predetermined heat level. Wires 37 are provided for connection to an AC source. Cover 39 and knob 38 formed of polystyrene are also provided.

Agitator 18 is within the field of the electromagnet in the base. The agitator is a thin member formed of magnetic material which can be elastically deformed under the influence of the AC electromagnet. The liquid is driven to sonic vibration levels when the magnetic agitator within the bath is deflected by the magnetic field produced when the AC electromagnet is energized as illustrated in FIG. 7 wherein agitator 18 is shown in its normal condition in solid lines and in its flexed condition in broken lines. The agitator is designed to provide in addition to the cycle per second sonic vibrations under the influence of the electromagnet, a stirring action within the bath to further dislodge and remove soil particles that are found in recessed areas. The agitator as shown in the figures is a flat thin member having a plurality of radially extending blades which form an angle with the bottom of the container and which cause the freely resting agitator to rotate slowly causing rotation of liquid in the container as the agitator is elastically deformed under the influence of the magnetic member.

In use the user would place the items to be cleaned on the rack, add appropriate cleaning solution and then effect cleaning. Since the container portion is separable from the base the container can be readily cleaned and washed after use and the chemicals and liquid can be inserted therein without fear of wetting the electrical parts contained in the base.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted have been achieved. Obviously, numerous changes and rearrangement of parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A bath for cleaning items with liquid including in combination a non-magnetic container for receiving said liquid, an elastically deformable magnetic member in surface contact With said liquid, said magnetic member being unattached within said container and said container being relatively rigid, an electromagnet disposed without said container and proximate to said magnetic member, means for supplying a varying current to said electromagnet, a varying magnetic field surrounding said electromagnet and induced by said varying current, said magnetic member being within said magnetic field and means for supporting said item within said liquid.

2. A bath for cleaning items with liquid including in combination a container formed of a non-magnetic material for receiving said liquid, an elastically deformable magnetic member disposed within said container and in surface contact with said liquid, an electromagnet disposed proximate to said magnetic member and without said container, means for supplying a varying current to said electromagnet, a varying magnetic field surrounding said electromagnet and induced by said varying current, said magnetic member being substantially fiat and disposed in a plane lying perpendicular to the direction of the application of force developed by change in magnetic flux in said electromagnet, and said magnetic member being within said magnetic field, said magnetic member being provided with a plurality of blades disposed at angles to the deformation of said magnetic member in response to said varying magnetic field imposing motion to said magnetic member within said liquid about an axis substantially perpendicular to its plane and means for supporting said itemwithin said liquid.

3. A bath for cleaning items with liquid in accordance with claim 1 in which said magnetic member is cup-like with a substantially fiat nondeformable portion and disposed in a plane lying perpendicular to the direction of the application of force developed by the change in magnetic fiux in said electromagnet and a deformable portion disposed atan angle with said fiat portion.

4. A bath for cleaning items with liquid in accordance with claim 3 in which said magnetic member is provided with a plurality of blades disposed at angles to the deformation of said magnetic member in response to said varying magnetic field imposing motion to said magnetic member within said liquid about an axis substantially perpendicular to its plane.

5. A bath for cleaning items with liquid in accordance with claim 2 in which said magnetic member is in a plane having a substantial horizontal projection and said electromagnet is disposed beneath said magnetic member.

6. A bath for cleaning items with liquid in accordance with claim .2 in which a lower portion of said container is formed to receive said magnetic-member and said magnetic member is substantially circular and disposed within said lower portion free of attachment to said container.

7. A bath for cleaning items with liquid in accordance with claim 6 in which said electromagnet and said container are separable.

8. A bath for cleaning items with liquid in accordance with claim 7 in which said electromagnet includes coil windings and core laminations are encapsulated within encapsulating compound.

9. A bath for cleanin gitems with liquid in accordance with claim 8 in which said-electromagnet is designed to operate upon receipt of varying 60-cycle current.

10. A bath for cleaning items with liquid in accordance with claim 8 in which a thermostat is provided proximate to said electromagnet to enable discontinuance of current upon achievement of a predetermined heat level within said electromagnet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,724,393 11/1955 Heise 134-184 X FOREIGN PATENTS 991,941 6/1951 France. 1,151,246 7/1963 Germany.

ROBERT W. JENKINS, Primary Examiner. 

